For children, a holiday resort can be a wonderland they never want to leave. From the Algarve to Abu Dhabi, these 11 resorts have all the ingredients for a trip that you and your family will remember forever.
Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa
Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa (Photo: Marriott International)
Set on the golden sands of Sant Salvador Beach, with a huge outdoor swimming pool and its own gelato truck, Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa has perfected the art of the child-friendly beach holiday. The surrounding Costa Daurada region of Spain boasts over 330 days of sunshine a year, so you're guaranteed the perfect weather for splashing around in the Mediterranean or enjoying water sports and beach games as part of the hotel’s active Family Program. Port Aventura, the best theme park on the Catalan coast, is within easy reach, as is the exciting city of Barcelona.
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark (Photo: Marriott International)
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark is a dream destination for water-loving children of all ages, with its five pools, water-sports centre and 500-metre stretch of private beach, one of the longest in Dubai. Best of all, the resort has its very own waterpark, featuring mat-racer rides and thrilling slides, an Aqua Play area and wave pool. The spacious two- and three-bedroom family rooms have soothing nautical tones and views out to sea or down over The Walk, Dubai Marina’s premier shopping district.
Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai (Photo: Marriott International)
You'll be forever in your children's good books if you book a stay at the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Boasting an incredible location on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah – the world-famous island that can be seen from space, a fact that will get some children’s imaginations racing from the outset! – the hotel has its own beach and easy access to some of the city’s best family attractions. Younger guests can work up an appetite in the dedicated children’s pool or at the complimentary Kids’ Club before tucking into pan-fried pizza and home-made gelato at Cucina, one of the hotel’s 10 on-site restaurants.
The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius
The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius (Photo: Marriott International)
Mauritius is fringed with family-friendly beaches, none more enticing than the flour-soft white sands that front The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius. Set in lush tropical grounds on the island’s idyllic northwest coast, the hotel’s comfortably stylish rooms look out over Turtle Bay marine park, whose turquoise waters provide superb snorkelling and diving experiences for all the family. Cooking classes, movie nights and storytelling around the campfire are on offer at the Kids’ Club, while nearby attractions include botanical gardens and the capital Port Louis’ vibrant market.
Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort
Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort (Photo: Marriott International)
Lively local culture meets fun-filled Mediterranean beach break in sunny southern Spain, and you can enjoy the best of both worlds at Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort. The family-friendly resort enjoys a plum position in the heart of Andalucia’s Costa del Sol, with Fuengirola Zoo and Marbella’s Old Town just a few minutes’ drive away. The beachfront resort’s apartments have a home-away-from-home vibe, each featuring a living room, dining room and fully equipped kitchen, and are spread across palm-filled gardens that spill down to Elviria Beach, where a range of water-sports equipment awaits.
Le Méridien Lav, Split
Le Méridien Lav, Split (Photo: Marriott International)
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is famous for the kind of translucent waters that lap against the shoreline at Le Méridien Lav, Split . Colourful, light-filled Family Suites provide the perfect base for days spent swimming, snorkelling and sailing in the Adriatic, trying your hand at sea kayaking and taking a cruise in the hotel’s luxury yacht. The hotel's ice-cream parlour, meanwhile, is the perfect place to refuel with a treat. Beyond the hotel, children with an interest in Roman history won’t want to miss the extraordinary Diocletian’s Palace in nearby Split.
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (Photo: Marriott International)
Taking its design aesthetic from the master craftsmen of Venice, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal brings a touch of Italy to the Middle East. Lavish, Venetian-inspired rooms, suites and villas frame one of Abu Dhabi’s largest outdoor pools, with many enjoying views of the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The hotel’s globe-trotting restaurants include atmospheric Mijana, where your children can expand their palate with regional dishes made using fresh produce from the hotel’s hydroponic Vertical Farm. You're just a short limousine ride from central Abu Dhabi, bringing the wonders of Abu Dhabi within easy reach.
Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort (Photo: Marriott International)
Few hotels in the UAE serve families as well as Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. While away your days playing in the temperature-controlled swimming pool and building sandcastles on the stretch of golden beach that runs along Fujairah’s east coast, or introduce your children to the wonders of the underwater world via the hotel’s PADI Dive Centre. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the spacious rooms make the most of the sensational sea views
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa (Photo: Marriott International)
Live like a Venetian doge (duke) at the award-winning JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, a luxury family hotel on a private island near central Venice. Choose a tranquil Family Premium Guest Room in the main hotel or book the exclusive Villa Rose, a secluded retreat set in private gardens with its own swimming pool. You’re just a short shuttle from the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square and other icons of Italy’s unique canal-threaded city here, while also perfectly positioned for island-hopping through the Venetian archipelago. Swim in the hotel's outdoor children's pool (a rarity for Venice), spend a day cycling around the island and take a family cooking class at the hotel’s Sapori Cooking Academy.
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino (Photo: Marriott International)
The big question at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino will be 'Can we stay longer?'. There’s swimming in the Ionian Sea, kayaking, kite-surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving to enjoy – and that’s before you’ve even left the beach. Set amid olive groves on the Costa Navarino, this family-focused resort has an almost endless supply of activities, with its very own waterpark the star of the show. You and the family can also hit the courts at the Mouratoglou Tennis Center, improve your jump shot at the forthcoming NBA Basketball School or take a guided hike or bike ride into the glorious Peloponnese interior, one of the most scenic regions of Greece.
Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve
Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve (Photo: Marriott International)
Overlooking Praia da Falésia, Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve offers a dreamy escape in southern Portugal. Designed with a nod to the Algarve’s Moorish past, the hotel’s calming public spaces and bedrooms are adorned with beautiful azulejos, the traditional hand-painted tiles that are so distinctively Portuguese. Children will love playing mini golf and hopping between the hotel’s half-dozen swimming pools; their parents will enjoy indulging in a full-body massage enriched with orange essence oil at the seaside Serenity Spa.
Published: November 13, 2024
Last Updated: January 17, 2025
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